Gurung warns of violent stir after Oct 20

GJM chief hinted at a prolonged bandh including closing down government and GTA offices for more than three months

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Bimal Gurung threatened to launch a “bloody agitation” after October 20. He hinted at a prolonged bandh including closing down government and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) offices for more than three months.

Gurung’s threat comes on the heels of the Supreme Court lauding the Calcutta high court for taking the “very courageous” decision to ban any form of agitation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha including bandhs.

Gurung in a sudden appearance addressed a GJM rally at the Darjeeling Chowrasta on Tuesday.

“The land of the Gorkhas is asking for blood and we have to be prepared to shed blood for Gorkhaland,” said Gurung.

He said, “Bengal has put her hands in the Darjeeling fire and till the hands turn into ashes the fire will continue burning. We are ready to do or die. Bimal Gurung might die but there will be many other Bimal Gurungs. The Gorkhaland demand will not be compromised. The government will not spare me but has to be careful before taking any action against me.”

Gurung said he has had enough of politics of “namaste” (salutations) and dharnas.

“The government does not understand our democratic form of agitation. Now the public, including the youth and women, has to remain prepared for another form of prolonged agitation. This time the bandh will have no relaxation,” said Gurung.

He said there was no need to free the arrested GJM leaders and supporters.

“Let them remain in jail. You can arrest all of us but the demand for Gorkhaland cannot be crushed by force,” said Gurung.

To his supporters, Gurung said, “We have to be prepared to sacrifice everything for Gorkhaland. We have to be prepared to face the ‘No Work, No Pay’ for more than three months for Gorkhaland.”

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has ruled out talks with the state government.

“On the request of Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde we lifted the indefinite bandh. It is now his responsibility to arrange for tripartite talks,” said Gurung.

Gurung will meet students from Class 9 to 12 on September 19 in the Mount Hermon School ground in Darjeeling.

Meanwhi le, one Vivek Tamang, general secretary of the students union of Mirik College, along with Anil Sharma, both Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha (GJVM, students’ union affiliated to GJM) members were arrested from Mirik on Tuesday.

This resulted in GJVM switching onto the agitation mode. Mirik was shut down for two hours while protest posters condemning the arrests were put up in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

“It is a conspiracy by the state government to crush the Gorkhaland agitation by launching a reign of terror,” said Sanjiv Subedi, student leader owing allegiance to GJVM.